The essence of spring

Flowers, artfully arranged, can offer a warm welcome to our annual season of renewal

It is no surprise that this time of year inspires poets, writers and artists to write or paint great works. Just think of William Wordsworth and his "hosts of golden daffodils" (I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud) or Beverly Nichols’ rhapsodic descriptions of spring enveloping his own English garden. (Down the Garden Path).

Spring is truly a miracle — more tenacious and more welcomed than perhaps any other season. It happens without help or interference from us, regardless of the state of the world or the state of our taxed wallets. It makes our hearts light.

Tiny children and the elderly alike enjoy the unfolding events of spring. The first flush of ornamental blossoms always seems to be more beautiful than previous years and the air seems more fragrant. Baby chicks, lambs and even piglets are too precious to describe. Birds sing louder and the first green of new leaves is never matched at any other time of year.

For many, the occasion of Easter is about the celebration of spring, often with special dinners or a Sunday brunch. Inspiration for floral arrangements for these meals or gatherings need only come from nature, which has bedecked the garden in all the pastels of the season like an illustration in a storybook. Robin’s egg blue, downy duck yellow, lavenders soft as a cloud easily work together without stepping on each other’s toes.

A monochromatic white colour scheme is also lovely for spring. This is a perfect time to use the many varieties of potted plants available in whites and cream tones. Swooping white phalenopsis orchids, fragrant jasmine hoops, Easter lilies, even white hydrangea are all at their best now and are easily incorporated into any decor. For a traditional look, tuck plant pots into white ceramic containers or wrap the plastic pots in crisp white paper for an edgy, modern look. Just tie with white string instead of ribbon.

Plants are always a good investment. Phalenopsis orchids last in bloom for more than six months. Jasmine and hydrangea can be transferred into the garden after they finish blooming. Easter lilies with their heavenly fragrance last in bloom for three weeks, longer if kept cool, but they won’t rebloom. Easter lilies are the third most important flowering potted plant, after poinsettia and chrysanthemums. More than 15 million Easter lilies will be sold this spring.

Spring arrangements can be sweet in content and colour scheme. Vintage ceramics and glassware are perfect to use as containers. Wicker, rattan or tin baskets are perfect for spring arrangements. Any container that is whimsical captures the essence of spring. Miniature varieties of flowers or minor bulbs — mini daffodils, lily of the valley, grape hyacinth sing of spring and can be tucked into tiny containers such as egg cups.

Any spring display must include eggs, feathers and nests. Chicken eggs lend themselves to being carefully topped and stuffed with moss or miniature flowers. A duck or goose egg can be a vessel for a single grape hyacinth bulb. Quail eggs are very charming tucked into arrangements or used as a top dressing for a potted plant.

Tin basket yellow mini daffs, blue anemones, pink germinis and pink wax flower crowd each other to create a full, layered spring garden. If a chosen basket will not hold water, place a plastic container inside.

Vintage duck containers found at a garage sale would be too cute at any other time of the year. White tulips cut very short look like eggs. A small piece of chicken wire in the bottom of the container holds the flowers in place.

Glass "egg" containers are perfect for miniature flowers — grape hyacinth, viburnum and checkerboard frittilliara. A vase with a small opening keeps each flower in place without the use of any "mechanics." This is the type of arrangement that would look fabulous repeated in a group on a tray as a centrepiece, or use one at each place setting.

A lavender-coloured glass vase can be filled with hellebores all in tints and shades of purple, so the shape and colour of the flowers echoes the shape and colour of the vase. A leafless birch branch can be twisted into a circular shape that also echoes the shape of the vase. No "mechanics" are needed to hold the arrangement in place. The blooms are just allowed to fall naturally and gracefully.

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